Seven decades after Adolf Hitler sought to stop Jews from competing in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, more than 2,500 Jewish competitors will take part in the 14th European Maccabi Games from Wednesday at the same Olympic Stadium.

The growth of the Sandwich Generation is a global phenomenon as more and more individuals are obliged to financially support their parents, who have not saved enough for their retirement, as well as their children who are leaving home at a later age.

Our road to Hobnobs is down Second Avenue - a thoroughfare once name-checked in a Bright Blue song - and our route takes us through the cosy heart of Harfield Village, a place choked with sidewalk cafes, bistros and bars in a cottagey way.

Dr Michael Mol and John Berry's new cookbook is aimed at the everyday family cook who has their eye on healthier meals, but that doesn't mean dessert is off the menu. Try their recipe for chocolate tartlets

The world is for the first time on the verge of being able to protect humans against Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, as data from a trial in Guinea showed a vaccine was 100 percent effective.

The Motsepes last year met Gates and his wife, Melinda, in Cape Town, and got "encouragement" from the US couple.

According to the Motsepes, they are the first couple outside the US to commit themselves to the Giving Pledge established by Gates and Buffett.

In the pledge "the wealthiest individuals and families in America commit to giving the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes and charitable organisations of their choice, either during their lifetime or after their death".

Motsepe said the money would assist in creating an environment in which recipients were able to stand on their own feet and "have control over [their] own future".

"We don't want Africa to be forever a continent of charity," he said - but donations would be needed for years to come.

He stressed that, though he would not limit his philanthropy to South Africa, the "overwhelming majority" of the funds would be earmarked for this country.

He acknowledged that South African businesses and other tycoons had been involved in philanthropy and had made "very significant" contributions.

His aim was not to challenge other wealthy South Africans.

His message to the poor was: "We are not going to allow you to suffer on your own."

According to Forbes magazine, Motsepe was, as of November, the fourth-richest person in South Africa, the eighth on the continent and 442nd in the world.

Gates said more than 90 rich people had already committed themselves to the Giving Pledge.

THEY GAVE AT THE OFFICE

IN 2006, Bill and Melinda Gates upped the ante on their previous philanthrophic endeavours by partnering with Warren Buffett.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has, according to its website, since paid out more than $25-billion to charitable causes. It has an asset trust endowment of $36.2-billion.

Buffett gave the foundation a large chunk of his Berkshire Hathaway shares in 2006.

Since then more than 90 wealthy individuals and families have pledged to give most of their wealth to charitable causes.